Smart question, CU -- it is not as though its a heavily calloused body part, but it is possible he was suffering from psychosomatic insensitivity (numbnuts syndrome). I agree it would be good to know what he was so engrossed in he couldn't feel, or at least smell, his flesh starting to blister. Obviously he was not one of those men whose brain is located in those regions! :>)

A new chapter in the absent-minded professor legend!

A